Button retainer

ABSTRACT

This is a button holder or retainer comprising a narrow elongated band with a hardened point portion at one end and a head at the other and further having a steam in order to facilitate insertion through the cloth of a garment or the like whereby the stem is pulled in order to extend a flexible portion having barbs to pass through the cloth whereupon the stem is broken off and discarded, such breaking off being facilitated by local weakening of the stem adjacent said barbs.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,925,855

Olovson 5] Dec. 16, 1975 [5 BUTTON RETAINER 2,104,885 l/l938 Robbins 2490 2,188,552 l/l940 King et al. [76] Inventor- Gudma f we de la 3,34944710/1967 Raleigh 24/90 g i k g z Away, 3,566,452 3/1971 Hooker 24/103 ranr1 e, we en [22] Filed: Feb. 10, 1975 Primary Examiner-Paul R. GilliamAssistant Examinerl(enneth J. Dorner [21] Appl' 548621 Attorney, Agent,or FirmEric Y. Munson Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation ofSer. No. 375,473, July 2, 1973. [57] ABSTRACT [52] C] 24/90 PR; 24/9O24/103 This is a button holder or retainer comprising a nar- 51 int. c1.A4 4B l/26 row elongated band with a hardened Poit P"rtion at [58] Fieldof Search 24/9O F, 90 TA, 90 PR one end and a head at the other andfurther having a 24/90 W, 90 G 90 HA 90 TS 103 101 R steam in order tofacilitate insertion through the cloth i 6 102 of a garment or the likewhereby the stem is pulled in order to extend a flexible portion havingbarbs to pass [56] References Cited through the cloth whereupon the stemis broken off UNITED STATES PATENTS and discarded, such breaking offbeing facilitated by local weakening of the stem adjacent said barbs.255,640 3/1882 Loewenthal 24/90 1,610,309 12/1926 Niederer 24/90 1Claim, 2 Drawing Figures BUTTON RETAINER This is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 375,473, filed July 2, 1973.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION.

The present invention relates to fasteners and specifically to a buttonholder or retainer.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a button retainer foruse with common buttons and which is applied manually, without tools ofany kind and the retainer having a penetrating point which is easilydetached and discarded after use. The invention may also be used inspecially designated buttons.

A further object of the invention is to provide a selflocking fastenerand which will not become loose or disconnected, even under rough usagebecause the force produced by the pulled flexible portion.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a buttonretainer or a button designated with a retainer which is low in cost tomanufacture and which may be temporary used or permanently used inmaking garments or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

FIG. 1 is a plan view partly in section showing button having retainingmeans according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a separate button retaining means used by a common button.

In FIG. 1 shows in side view a specially designed button havingretaining means. The button portion has the reference number 1 and theretaining means has the reference number 2. This retaining means 2 isintended to be pressed through cloth 3 of a garment or the like. Theretaining means and the button are integrally formed.

Similar characters of reference are used to indicate similar oridentical elements and portions throughout the specification.

The retaining means 2 comprises an elongated band portion or circularportion. The stem or portion 2a extending from the button 1 via aportion 2b is formed as a point 2a and the hole portion or at least thepoint 2a is hardened. The part or portion 2b arranged closed to thebutton 1 is elastic. The means 2 has barbs 2c arranged between theportion 2a and the portion 2b. The barbs are in FIG. 1 illustrated astwo but the number may be increased to three, four or more.

At least one fraction of the portion 2b is so designed and has suchelasticity that the barbs 2c may be pulled completely through the cloth3 and completion of after the pulling operation the barbs 2c are pressedagainst the cloth 3 and the button 2.

The retaining means from the portion 2b to the point 20' may beprogressively hardened whereby point 2a is stiffer than the point ofconnection adjacent portion 2d.

Because of the fact that the barbs 2c are pressed towards the button 2said button has a supporting surface la. The cloth 3 will be pressedbetween the surface 1a and the free ends of the barbs 2c.

The means 2 has two recesses 2a close to the barbs 2c in order tofacilitate the discarded of the portion 2a. The stem 2a is broken offand such breaking off is faci- 2 liated by local weakening of the stemadjacent 'said barbs. t

It is suggested that the breaking surface is caused to occur within thebarbs 2a as illustrated in FIG. 1.

A button as shown in FIG. 1 is used as follows. The point 2a is forcedthrough the appropriate portion at the material 3 (cloth) from theoutside. By the extending portions 2d the cloth will be guided over thebarbs 2c. A force is applied to the stem 2a in the direction illustratedby an arrow P and a counter-force is applied to the button 1 illustratedby an arrow P1. These forces will cause an extension of the elastic orflexible part 2b and the barbs 2c are passing through the material.After the barbs 2c have passed through the material 3 the forces aretaken away and the barbs 2c are pressing the material 3 towards thebutton and its surface 1a. The portion 2a is than broken away.

In FIG. 2 shows a fastening means or a separate button retainer. Thebutton is here of conventional type. The portion 2b is at its free endformed as a stop 2e which is intended to rest towards inside surface ofthe material 3. It is obvious that the stop 2e may be a separate device.It is possible to extend the stop portion 2e and use it as a stop forthe barbs 20.

It is obvious that the main difference between the shown embodiments arethe length of the portion 2b. It is possible to shorter the length ofportion 2b in FIG. 2 and use two means 2 for one button.

It is understood that variations from the shown embodiments may be madewithout departure from the spirit and scope of the invention and thatthe specification and drawings are to be considered as merebyillustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

l. A button assembly adapted to secure a button to a fabric materialcomprising:

a. a button member for abutting one side of the fabrlc;

b. a fabric piercing member integrally formed with the button member andextending from said button member;

c. said fabric piercing member comprising:

i. a relatively rigid portion having a free and pointed end for piercingthe fabric;

ii. a relatively resilient portion between the button member and saidrigid portion;

iii. said rigid portion being recessed to form a frangible webconnecting with said resilient portion to facilitate the breaking off ofthe rigid portion upon completion of the fabric piercing operation;

iv: a plurality of flexible barbs extending obliquely from saidrelatively resilient postion towards said button member, the free endsof said flexible barbs which face the button member being a spaceddistance from the button member which is less than the thickness of thefabric, said barbs being adapted to flex towards each other during thefabric piercing operation and to flex away from each other to abutagainst the opposite side of the fabric when the resilient portion isseated in the fabric to thereby anchor the button in the fabric;

d. said button member comprising a widened head portion and a narrowshank portion resting against the fabric and spacing the head from thefabric, said shank portion being dimensioned to form a backing surfacefor fabric being pressed theregressively in stiffness from its point ofconnection against by the barbs; to said web toward its point. e. therigidity of said rigid portion increasing pro

1. A button assembly adapted to secure a button to a fabric materialcomprising: a. a button member for abutting one side of the fabric; b. afabric piercing member integrally formed with the button member andextending from said button member; c. said fabric piercing membercomprising: i. a relatively rigid portion having a free and pointed endfor piercing the fabric; ii. a relatively resilient portion between thebutton member and said rigid portion; iii. said rigid portion beingrecessed to form a frangible web connecting with said resilient portionto facilitate the breaking off of the rigid portion upon completion ofthe fabric piercing operation; iv. a plurality of flexible barbsextending obliquely from said relatively resilient postion towards saidbutton member, the free ends of said flexible barbs which face thebutton member being a spaced distance from the button member which isless than the thickness of the fabric, said barbs being adapted to flextowards each other during the fabric piercing operation and to flex awayfrom each other to abut against the opposite side of the fabric when theresilient portion is seated in the fabric to thereby anchor the buttonin the fabric; d. said button member comprising a widened head portionand a narrow shank portion resting against the fabric and spacing thehead from the fabric, said shank portion being dimensioned to form abacking surface for fabric being pressed thereagainst by the barbs; e.the rigidity of said rigid portion increasing progressively in stiffnessfrom its point of connection to said web toward its point.